Just don't think this team is ready to win yet. All three defeats in the semi finals reveal where we are lacking at the moment. Defeat to City showed us that there was a lack of quality on the pitch, defeat to Chelsea showed a lack of depth in the squad and defeat tonight against Sevilla showed naivety. It's not a bottle job or a massive underachievement, it is where we are, we need to continue to develop and sign good players who can improve us and we can turn those semi finals into finals and then hopefully into victories.
How come Ole can only get a semi? | Can he finally go all the way?
- Thread starter Sassy Colin
- Start date
Tonight was probably the least shit semi performance but they’ve all been various less of shit.
Cheers.
Add to that we have the highest number of clean sheets for Europe's top 5 leagues. We've lost 2 games in what 20 odd? We're scoring more goals and conceding less. One game in a knockout tournament doesn't change any of that. And... our players are hungry. Just listen to Bruno in his post match. They want to win. All signs of great foundations for us.
I would even take a top player and a couple up and coming kids around the £20/25 mill mark who have shown glimpses in other leagues to get some strength in depth. Lets face it we aint going to win the premier or champions league next season, so we may as well build some squad strength.
Football is the opposite of real life. When you’re young seeing it through is never a problem, in football apparently being a little older is advantageous. Who would have thought.3 times, why can't he go all the way?
Not me, that’s for sure.
Maybe Ed should sign Viagra as a sponsor.
Any players that do come in have to be the right ones. In truth, I'm open with regards to this, as long as they fit the "profile". E.g. we want mentally tough players, who are comfortable on the ball, who will improve us and have the potential to become better. The Fernandes signing was such an important one, if only for his mental strength and work rate. It's infectious and it has an impact on the rest of the squad. So, any players we buy have to carry on with that and be cut from a similar cloth.
Because the moment quality wise that is the ceiling of this squad , we need an injection or more quality in the squad to be more than a top 4 team and a semi final cup team.
I think we are going in the right direction but we still need a a few quality recruits to challenge the top teams, very important few weeks in the transfer window coming up.
I think we are going in the right direction but we still need a a few quality recruits to challenge the top teams, very important few weeks in the transfer window coming up.
We are getting better, but we aren't yet where we want to be; hence it's been a season of semi-finals. I didn't expect third in the league and three cup semi-finals this season. Ole did well to get us there.
Because hes an average manager, and we have an average team to we cant expect anything but average results.
The only way Ole is going to succeed here is if we get a clearly better team than our opposition, meaning really superior.
The only way Ole is going to succeed here is if we get a clearly better team than our opposition, meaning really superior.
Because he swaps the personal in between sticks just before he gets to the big moment?
Exactly this. Whilst im pissed we lost, I'm optimistic. I look forward to the next season because I like the direction Ole is taking us. Can't say I've always felt like that under the previous managers. Bring on next season!
Yes Ole is looking at the character of a player as well as ability, and im sure there are some young dutch french belgium greek turkish etc players from the 'lesser' leagues who fit the bill. Even if it doesnt work out long term it gives us time to build the strength of the bench and we probably get most of the transfer fee back.
Proper bottlejob.
Common factors in all 3 SF's were either the lack squad depth or individual defensive errors
He had Green-wood, who was impotent in the box today and couldn't penetrate. Having a Rash on his ball didn't help either. If he had brought Bailly on for Willi(ams) it may not have Mata'd, as he still would have suffered from Erictile dysfunction. He needs to pay money to get Jack off Villa and improve the play in the box.
Not really,
Just your subjective opinion.
He's actually very decent when you start looking at stats and turn away from the subjective stuff.
Only player to have less players dribble past him than VVD this season, but no one mentions that.
Good post and definitely sums up our performances in the semi finals this season
You make a very valid point about Klopp's record in finals until last year,however also have to be careful it doesn't become a mental block like City & PSG in Champions League.
We are a team in progress. We do not have game changers as such. It's too early to draw any theories.
This.
Who actually predicted we’d finish third this season and be a game away from the final in all the cup competitions we competed in? Nobody. Most had us between 6-10th with early elimination in the cups. The squad was just not good enough. So this is great progress and I was happy to see the hurt on the pitch. They will be better for this. I say well done Ole, staff and team this season. Bring on the next!
Someone always has to tske negativity to ludicrous levels.
Correct. It's frustrating the whole 'subs' thing, but really not surprising with our squad depth. It absolutely has to be addressed in the window.
Best thread title ever 
This is our learning curve season. We need to make the transition next term, which will be aided by better squad depth and more experience.3 times, why can't he go all the way?
I love how this is doing the rounds as though it makes us an abject failure. What of all the teams who go out in those competitions in the early stages? We are a young and thin squad that came up short, but plenty of positives and hope for the future providing the board does the right thing.
How did we win three quarter finals?
Ah, because we are a bunch of winners that don’t know how to lose.
But, then how did we lose ... etc
This over reaction doesn't sit well with me.
League cup, we got blown away in 45 mins V City when we had one of the worst teams out, Jones and Lindelof in defence. Done well after that to stay in the tie.
FA cup - We clearly didn't go for it, most people wanted to concentrate on top 4, just like the manager.
Europa League - this one hurts the most, but the best performance in a semi final this season shows the progress we have made.
In all 3, individual mistakes cost us.
League cup, we got blown away in 45 mins V City when we had one of the worst teams out, Jones and Lindelof in defence. Done well after that to stay in the tie.
FA cup - We clearly didn't go for it, most people wanted to concentrate on top 4, just like the manager.
Europa League - this one hurts the most, but the best performance in a semi final this season shows the progress we have made.
In all 3, individual mistakes cost us.
no in-game management, just vibes
What in game management do you expect? We missed a metric fecktonne of chances and people are moaning about tactics and substitutions
Our players look exhausted because the squad is so shallow he cannot rotate without putting result at risk, see semi against Chelsea. He needs a lot more players so the quality does not drop if changes need because of exhaustion, injuries or lack of form. Rashford needed to be taken out, loss of confidence or to be honest I still think he isn't completely fit, but don't think he trust any of the back up players.
To taunt you.3 times, why can't he go all the way?
Matt Busby lost his four first European semi finals.
Am I right in thinking that United won 100% of the knockout ties in which Romero started in goal and 0% of the ties that De Gea played? Even better still is that United won the four EL group games that Romero started and failed to win the two that he didn't. United won 15 and drew 2 of the 17 games Romero played this season, keeping 12 clean sheets and conceding 5 goals.
Oncoming Erectile Dysfunction?
Also, how have you become privy to this information?
Also, how have you become privy to this information?
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Next season will be crucial for me. We have some big lows this season, but also some highs, especially after the break. Let’s see who we can buy and how we will do.
Team is very young and youth hardly ever brings home silverware. Mourinho knows it and that's why he won it. Obviously it's less exciting to win it with Ashley Young and Lukaku's but that's the price you pay.
You can't win anything with kids, etc
“the lack of anything remotely resembling a process, a plan, a blueprint: something that sustains you through the tough parts, that gets you over setbacks. Here, against the wily Sevilla, it manifested itself most clearly in the lack of composure, an inability to concentrate for the full 90 minutes, on the inability to find solutions on the pitch, on Solskjær’s unshakeable faith in his starting XI, to the point that he resisted a substitution until the 87th minute, despite his side’s increasing fatigue.What in game management do you expect? We missed a metric fecktonne of chances and people are moaning about tactics and substitutions
Marcus Rashford had a poor game after winning an early penalty. Bruno Fernandes faded from view after converting it. The full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Brandon Williams looked increasingly adrift as the game went on. And perhaps tellingly, it was a loss of possession high up the pitch by an exhausted Mason Greenwood that led to the move from which Sevilla scored their winning goal: the final act of a team that, in more ways than one, had run itself into the ground.
Of course, United have a loose philosophy and style of play, based largely on their electric front five with its multiple options for cutting you to pieces. But insofar as they possess a strategy, it seems to consist largely of letting their gifted individuals do their thing, and entrusting the rest to timing and self-expression, good feelings and blind faith. Here again, as in their other losing semi-finals, against Chelsea in the FA Cupand Manchester City in the League Cup, Solskjær and United discovered that momentum is not a tactic.”
Like I said, Ole’s United is pure vibes and not much else. Just vibes. Wouldn’t be surprised if team talk consisted of: “enjoy yourselves. Go out there and give the supporters something to cheer for”.
Disappointed with last night. Really annoyed me watching those Seville players celebrating with 5 minutes to go. United just had no answer to them. A lot more improvement needed